Hoover sweeps rival Jackson in Federal League swim meet

Saturday

The Jackson boys and girls swim team stood at the edge of the Polar Bear Pool at the Paul and Carol David YMCA and saluted the Hoover swim teams with a cheer.

The Vikings then bounced as one off the tiled floor, chanting, “FLC, FLC!”

“They are our rival,” said Vikings senior Mitch Alters. “Hoover-Jackson has been going on forever. The atmosphere at this meet is unlike any other.”

Buoyed by an incredible energy level at poolside, Hoover’s boys and girls stroked their way to victories that all but locked up Federal League titles for both.

For the third straight year, Hoover’s girls nipped the Polar Bears, 97-89, to remain unbeaten and clinch a share of the league with one dual left. It didn’t come down to the final race, as it did a year ago, but the drama was palpable.

“I was trying not to let it get into my head, the anxiety and nerves, and turn it into excitement,” said Vikings junior Becca Acuna after winning two individual races and anchoring the victorious 200 medley relay.

“But I was shaking behind the blocks.”

It was more of dead calm for the Viking boys. They claimed their fifth straight league championship with a 110-76 triumph on the power swims of seniors Alters and Thomas Tedrow, each of whom won two individual races and set a pool record.

“We won the Federal League all four years I’ve been here,” said Tedrow, who took the 50 free in a record time of 22.20 seconds, the 100 back and anchored the closing 400 free relay. “It wasn’t about to change today. This meet brings out the best in everyone.

The volume was amped up during the girls races. The Polar Bears still were hurting from last year’s photo-finish loss to Hoover that cost them the crown.

Try as they might, even with Chase Kinney in purple, they couldn’t overcome the efforts of Hoover’s Acuna, Lauren Nist, Kimberlee Aston and others.

“That was the most exciting meet I’ve ever been at, for a dual meet,” said Kinney, who won two individual races and anchored two relays to victories. “That was kind of a bummer it didn’t (come to a last race).

“We gave it our best, there wasn’t anything else we could do.”

Kinney claimed first in the 100 butterfly in her best time of the season, a 58.51 that broke her own pool mark. She took the 200 free in 1:57.91.

The junior standout also anchored the 200 free and 400 free relays, including a season-best time of 1:40.73 in the 200 free with Elizabeth Graeff, Krystin Tondra and Taylor Wiseman.

But Acuna came to swim, too. She won the 50 free and 100 free. The junior anchored the 200 medley relay team of Olivia Beam, Elise Schliffka and Nist to victory. Nist added a first in the 500 free, while Aston and Schliffka went 1-2 in the 100 breast to seal the outcome.

“It’s the second year in a row the girls really stepped up,” said Hoover coach Matt Johnsen. “They love competing against Jackson. They have some of the best girls in the state.”

Graeff set a pool record in her victorious 100 backstroke swim with a time of 1:01.40, while Josie McKee scored a 231.70 to win the 1-meter diving competition. When McKee took first, she put the Polar Bears ahead.

“I know how our kids rise to the occasion,” said Jackson girls coach Kelli Ohman. “They were just rolling with it, and they fought to the end. It just wasn’t enough today, and that’s all right.

“They know what counts is two, three weeks from now.”

The Jackson boys turned in some outstanding efforts, too, led by Juan Hernandez. The senior distance ace showed his strength by doubling in the 200 IM and the 500 free. Hernandez won the 200 IM by almost three seconds in 2:12.74, then won the 500 free by nearly 19 seconds.